Ten Clean Energy Stocks For 2014: March Update

Tom Konrad CFA

After a rough January, the stock market recovered in February, while
clean energy stocks partied like it was 2013. My annual Ten
Clean
Energy Stocks model portfolio also had a good month,
rising 6.0%, and is now up 4.7% for the year in dollar terms, and up
% in local currency terms. My broad market benchmark (the
iShares Russell 2000 index) is up 7.5% for the period and 1.5% for
the year. Clean energy stocks soared higher, with the
Powershares WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (NYSE:PBW)
up 16.3% for the period and 15.7% for the year.

Turning to individual stocks in the model portfolio, several
companies have reported 2013 results. I cover this and other
significant news below.

Individual Stock Notes

(Current prices as of February 3rd, 2014. The "High
Target" and "Low Target" represent the ranges within which I
predicted these stocks would end the year, although I expect a
minority will stray beyond these bands due to unanticipated
events.)

Sustainable Infrastructure REIT Hannon Armstrong announced full
year results. While management reaffirmed their 13% to 15%
target for core earnings and dividend growth, the company took a
provision of $0.69 per share on investment in a geothermal loan,
which was a larger write-down than I had anticipated. Some
of this may be recovered in future quarters.

Because of the loss, management presented significant details
about the credit quality of its other assets in the conference
call, 96% of which is investment grade. This seems to have
reassured investors, as the stock has been rising to bring
its
yield more in-line with other clean energy income
stocks.

Green Building company PFB scaled back its stock repurchase program
in February, but board member and large shareholder, Edward
Kernaghan has continued his purchases, buying 3,700 shares since the
last update. The company paid its regular C$0.06 dividend in
February.

Waste heat recovery firm Primary Energy announced the
long-anticipated recontacting
of its largest facility on Friday. In the two trading
days since, only 920 shares have traded, compared to a three month
average daily trading volume of over 20,000 shares. This
reflects a lack of willing sellers as shareholders await the
company's annual results, to be released on March 18th.

Bicycle manufacturer and distributor Accell announced annual results on
February
21st. Sales increased 10%, led by a 23% increase in
e-bike sales. Earnings declined 18% mostly due to
reorganization costs. The company proposed a €0.55 annual
dividend, to be approved at the annual meeting. The lower earnings
and dividend were expected, and the stock has reacted favorably
since the announcement.

Energy performance contracting firm Ameresco will announce its
annual results on March 13th. The Pentagon announced that Ameresco
is
now eligible to bid on projects included in its $7
Billion green energy program.

Global provider of software as a service fleet and mobile asset
management, MiX Telematics, announced its fiscal third quarter
results on February 6th, including slightly-better than anticipated
growth in its closely watched subscription revenues. After the
results were out, I interviewed CEO Stefan Joselowitz and industry
expert Clem Driscoll. I had initially included MiX in this
portfolio because I felt it was the best valued company is a rapidly
growing industry which can significantly reduce fuel uses and
improve driver safety.

After doing the research for that
article, I am even more enthusiastic about the company.
In addition to the stock being a better value than those of its
competitors, I believe MiX is a leader in globalization and its
tools to provide driver feedback, which improve efficiency and
safety. Given the recent stock pullback, I added to my
holdings, and consider the current price an excellent entry point.

Renewable energy developer and operator Alterra Power completed
the acquisition of a 202 MW wind development and announced
the results of its 66% owned Icelandic subsidiary, HS
Orka. Revenues and electricity production increased, but
EBITDA and income were down, mostly due to one-off factors. HS
Orka continues to use most of its cash flow to rapidly pay down
debt. This cash flow should be available for other uses from
2017 onwards.

Two Speculative Penny Stocks for 2014

Geothermal power developer Ram completed the remediation of its
San Jacinto-Tizate project on January 22nd, and expects to
complete a plant capacity test in March. Management expects
the remediation to have increased the plant capacity to
between 58 and 63 MW. We can expect the stock to appreciate
significantly if it is in the upper part of the range. If it
fails to reach 58 MW, look out below!

Final Thoughts

Clean energy stocks are starting off the year at a blistering
pace. Although my picks have not kept up, I'm very happy with
the 4.7% return from these relatively conservative and
income-heavy stocks. Of the ten, only MiX is down, and I'm
also happy to see the stock there for now. Its recent US
listing only came to my attention in December, and the current
weakness comes at an opportune time, as I am becoming more
enthusiastic about the company's long term prospects.

DISCLAIMER: Past performance is
not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results.
This article contains the current opinions of the author and
such opinions are subject to change without notice. This
article has been distributed for informational purposes only.
Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein
should not be considered as investment advice or a
recommendation of any particular security, strategy or
investment product. Information contained herein has been
obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not
guaranteed.